Luggage with slide fastener closure and slider therefor

ABSTRACT

A luggage case comprising opposed case sections of a sewable material employs a slide fastener for opening and closing the case. A strap is connected to one case section and means connected to the opposite case section is provided for releaseably locking the strap. The strap overlies a slider or sliders in the closed condition of the slide fastener. The slider, or where a pair of sliders are used to open and close the fastener, are each provided with an elongated loop member through which the strap is extended to prevent the slide fastener from being opened, unless the strap is disconnected from the means for locking the strap to the case.

mite Met es tent llichard Molnar East Paterson, NJ. 052,566

Aug. 25, 1969 Dec. 211, 19711 Presto lLoch (10., line. Garfield, NJ.

[72] Inventor [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54]LUGGAGE WITH SLIDE FASTENER CLOSURE AND SlLlIlDElll THEREFOR 10 Claims,10 Drawing Figs.

[52] 10.8. 121 190/412, 241205.11 L [51] lot. Cl A lfic 113/00 [50]Field oil Search 190/41 Z, 59; 24/205, 205.1 1, 205.15 ll [56]Relerences Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 367,237 7/1887 Reinisch 190/591,705,149

3/1929 Brady 190/41ZUX [H1 ss 2,398,947 4/1946 Marinslcy 24/205.ll X

3,292,224 12/1966 Silberman 24/2051 1 A 3,319,743 5/1967 Pelavin.....190/41 Z 3,477,553 11/1969 lfiish 190/412 FOREIGN PATENTS 894,402 4/1962Great Britain 244205.11

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Harry G. ShapiroAlllBS'lllAC'lI: A luggage case comprising opposed case sections of asewable material employs a slide fastener for opening and closing thecase. A strap is connected to one case section and means connected tothe opposite case section is provided for releaseably locking the strap.The strap overlies a slider or sliders in the closed condition of theslide fastener.

- The slider, or where a pair of sliders are used to open and close thefastener, are each provided with an elongated loop member through whichthe strap is extended to prevent the slide fastener from being opened,unless the strap is disconnected from the means for locking the strap tothe case.

PATENTEB UEEZI 137i SHEET 1 UF 3 INVENTOR.

R\CHARD MOLNAR ATTORNEJ' Pmmmmmn 3.1628540 SHEET 2 OF 3 FMEA FBEQ

ENVENTOR.

R\CHARD MOLM AR ATTOR HEY PATENIED 05021 am 3 2 540 SHEET 3 OF 3 1 KW l32 L INVENTOR.

FUCHARD MOLNAR ATTORNEY LUGGAGE WITII SLIDE FASTENIEII ELOSIIRE ANDELIDER THEREFOR The invention relates to improvements in luggage havinga slide fastener closure; also improvements in sliders for'slidefasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is presently on the market a luggagecase of the type having a slide fastener closure where in the closedcondition of the case, or with the slide fastener closed, a pair ofsliders are located adjacent one another midway of the length of the topside of the case. A. strap connected to one of the case sectionsoverlies the adjacent sliders, and has its end releaseably connected toa buckle lock mounted on the side of the opposite case section.

Although the sliders are concealed beneath the strap in the closed andlocked condition of the case, the flexible character of the materialconstituting the case sections, or a small amount of looseness of thelocked strap, permits one to obtain access to the sliders beneath thestrap to move them in fastener-opening direction. As a result,unauthorized access to the contents to the case is possible.

The primary object of the invention is to prevent the unauthorizedopening of the slide fastener of a luggage case of the type as abovedescribed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slider of a novelconstruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a slider isprovided with an elongated loop member connected to a wing of the sliderbody. The loop member extends substantially parallel to the length ofthe slider, and is adapted to closely confine a strap extendedtherethrough. A slide fastener having a slider provided with the loopmember incorporated in a luggage case prevents the slider or sliders somade, from being manipulated to open the case when the strap is extendedthrough the loop member or members and locked to the luggage case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of aluggage case made in accordance with the invention, the case being shownwith the slide fastener in its closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a partial, perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing therelationship of a slide fastener, a strap overlying the slider bodies ofthe fastener, and the connection of the end of the strap to a bucklelock, this view showing the strap partially broken away to expose thekey barrel of the buckle lock;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in approximately theplane ofline 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. d is a partial top plan view on an enlarged scale, showing therelationship of sliders made in accordance with the invention in theclosed condition of the case;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the elements shown in FIG. I, thisview omitting the showing of the associated case sections for purpose ofclarity in illustration;

FIG. 6 shows a loop member and a slider pull preliminary to theirconnection to one another;

FIGS. 7ltl illustrate another embodiment of a slider made in accordancewith the invention, FIG. '7 being a top plan view and showing therelationship of a pair of the sliders when the slide fastener is closed:

FIG. II is a front elevational view of the slider;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the elements shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. It) is a cross section taken approximately in the plane of the linelltllltl ofFIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, aluggage case made in accordance with the invention comprises a pair ofcase sections A, A which are hinged to one another on the underside ofthe case by a pair of longitudinally spaced hinges (not shown), as

is common in the art. The case sections are made of a sewable material2.0, for example, leather, plastic sheet material such as vinyl resinsheeting, or a coated fabric such as canvas coated with a suitablewaterproofing composition. Various waterproofing compositions may beused, for example, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride andvinyl acetate, copolymers and terpolymers of styrene, etc. The casesections A, A each have a peripheral edge 22 along their respective opensides (FIG. 2). Each peripheral edge is defined longitudinally by thetop, bottomarid end sides of the case section. The edges may bereinforced by welting. As shown in FIG. l, a handle M is connected toone case section by longitudinally spaced connecting studs 26.

A slide fastener or a pair of slide fasteners are used to open and closethe luggage case. The slide fastener comprises a pair ofstringers, thatis, a pair of tapes 2h having interlockable fastener elements 30 securedin offset relationship to the respective edges of the tapes forengagement and disengagement of the fastener elements by a slider orsliders 32. The respective tapes 2d are in overlapping relationship withthe case section material 20 at the peripheral edges of the casesections and sewn thereto by the lines of stitching 343.

Where, as illustrated, a slide fastener or slide fasteners are used in amanner where the case is closed with a pair of the sliders 32 locatedadjacent one another midway of the length of the top side of the case,either a single slide fastener or a pair of slide fasteners may be used.With fastener elements of the so-called double-acting type, a singleslide fastener with a pair of opposed sliders may be used and ispreferred. Where the fastener elements are of the single-acting type, apair of slide fasteners are used, the top or top stop ends of which arelocated midway of the top of the case. In any event, whether a singledouble-acting slide fastener or two slide fasteners of the one-wayacting type are used, an overall length of slide fasteners is selectedso that the ends of the fastener or fasteners terminate on the undersideof the case near the juncture of the underside with the sidewalls of thecase.

In the illustrated form of the invention, a strap 1% has one end thereofsewn to either the top side 3% of one case section or such case sectionssidewall. The strap is of a length to extend across the parting line ofthe case, across the top side 39 of the opposing case section and downthe sidewall d0 of the opposed case section. A buckle lock d2 is mountedon the sidewall dill .by the connection thereof to a mounting strip 43sewn to the sidewall. The buckle lock is of a known construc tion, whichis commercially available.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the buckle lock comprises an apertured plateid to which a member 46 is pivotally connected. The member dd ispositioned for rotation within the aperture d7 of the plate The memberlti is provided with a hook dd adapted to be extended through an eyeletd9 in the strap 36. The pivoted member 4% carries a key barrel 50 and alocking bolt 52 which are supported by a bottom frame 5d. Cooperablemeans are provided by the plate M and the locking bolt so that slidingmovement of the locking bolt by a key (not shown) inserted through thekey barrel will prevent rotation of the hook-providing member as in thelocked condition of the device. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate Ml isprovided with a crosspin 56 for the connection of the device to themounting strip d3 as by sewing or rivets extended through the foldedover end portion of the mounting strip d3.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bodies of the sliders 32 are of the usualconstruction in that they each comprise a pair of spaced, flanged wings60 joined at one end by a neck 62 to provide an internal substantiallyU-shaped channel for the engagement and disengagement of the fastenerelements 3t! when the slider is moved in fastener-opening orfastener-closing direction. The top wing of the slider is provided withthe usual longitudinally extending lug M to which a pull as is pivotallyconnected by trunnions ad.

in accordance with the invention, an elongated loop member I. isconnected to the slider body or the top wing of the slider body. In theembodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, theelongated loop member L, which is formed or made of a bent wire isconnected to the pull 66 by providing the adjacent outwardly bent endsof the wire with respective connecting stud portions 70 which areextended through a pair of longitudinally-spaced apertures 72 in thepull 66. The ends of the studs are then headed over to secure the partsto one another. The lengthwise dimension of the loop member extendssubstantially parallel to the length of the slider body. The pull servesas the means for connecting the loop member to the slider body. In use,the loop member is grasped for moving the slider in fastener-opening andfastener-closing directions.

In the embodiment of the slider illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, theintermediate pull 66 is eliminated. The elongated loop member,designated L, has its adjoining ends 74 connected by a connecting member76, the member also being formed to provide trunnions 78 for directconnection to the lug 64. The connecting member 76 has a portion whichis generally Z- shapedl As shown in FIG. 10, the offset parallelportions are secured to the ends 74 of the loop member, as by spotwelding. An integral, downwardly extending portion is formed to providethe trunnions 78 which are clinched under the lug 64 on the slider bodyto form the connection.

The advantage of the construction shown in FIGS. 7-I0 is that theside-by-side relationship desired for the loop members of a pair ofsliders is obtained without resort to rights and lefts" as needed inconnection with the embodiment of FIGS. 46. In this later embodiment theapertures 72 in the pull 66 must be located near one edge of a pull forone slider and near the opposite edge of the pull for the second slider.In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-10 there is enoughplay between the member 76 and the lug 64 to allow exactly the sameconstruction for each of the sliders.

The elongated loop members L or L' preferably are made of wirestockwhich, when bent to the illustrated configuration, possesses substantialrigidity. Wire stock having a diameter of approximately one-eight inchis preferred. The wire may have a square cross section with a radius atthe comers so that there will be no sharp edge presented to the handwhen grasping the loop member. The loop member provides an elongatedopening to closely confine the strap which is to be extendedtherethrough. The strap should be of a width to cover or conceal theslider bodies in the closed condition of the case. An example ofsuitable dimensions for the opening through the loop member is a lengthof approximately 3.0 inches and a height of approximately one-quarterinch. The lengthwise dimension of the elongated loop member issubstantially greater than the length of the slider body to which it isconnected. The lengthwise dimension of the loop member extendssubstantially parallel to the length of the slider body.

The case is locked in the following manner. The loop members L, or L,are grasped to bring the sliders adjacent one another on the top of thecase with the loop members in aligned and side-by-side relationship, asshown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9. The end of the strap 36 is extendedthrough the adjacent loop members and is threaded through the platemember 44 of the buckle lock. The hook 48 is extended through the eyelet49 in the strap, and the locking bolt 52 is shifted by a key to lock thecase before tucking the end of the strap under and out from beneath thelower end of the plate member 44. If one could get under the strap, thesliders can not be moved in fastener-opening direction. The loop membersthrough which the strap is extended prevents any movement from beingimparted to the sliders, unless the strap is unlocked from the bucklelock and the strap is retracted from within the loop members.

The term slide fastener as used in the claims is intended to refer toeither a single slide fastener having double-acting slide fastener orscoops or a pair of slide fasteners of the single-acting type.

Although a luggage case as illustrated, wherein the buckle lock and thecooperable strap are located centrally of the case is preferred, thestrap and associated buckle lock may be located on an end wall near itsjuncture with the bottom side of the case, at which area the slidefastener is in closed condition. Such modification permits the use of asingle slider including the described associated elongated loop membercooperable with the strap.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results afforded by theillustrated and described slider and luggage construction including aslide fastener having such slider will be apparent from the foregoingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A slider for slide fasteners comprising a pair of spaced flangedwings joined by a neck to provide a slider body, and an elongated loopmember connected to a wing, said loop member being elongated inthedirection of the length of the slider body and having a lengthwisedimension substantially greater than the length of the slider body, theelongated loop member being adapted to closely confine a strapextendible through the loop member in a direction transverse to thelength of the slider body.

2. A slider according to claim 1, including a lug on one of the wingsand a pull connected to the lug, the loop member being formed of a bentwire having the ends thereof secured to the pull.

3. A slider according to claim 1, including a lug on one of the wings,and a connecting member secured to the loop member and connected to thelug.

4. A slider according to claim 3, wherein the loop member is formed ofbent wire having its ends adjacent each other substantially midway ofthe length of the loop member, the connecting member comprising asubstantially Z-shaped portion welded to said ends and a projectingportion formed to provide a pair of trunnions extended beneath the lug.

S. In a luggage case comprising a pair of opposed case sections, a slidefastener including a pair of tapes having interlockable elements securedto their-respective edges and a slider body for opening and closing theslide fastener, the tapes being secured to the case sections along theirperipheral edges, a strap connected to one case section, and meansconnected to the opposite case section for releasably locking the strap,the strap overlying the slider body in the closed condition of the slidefastener, the improvement comprising an elongated loop member connectedto the slider body, the strap being extendible through the loop member.

6. In a luggage case comprising a pair of opposed case sections, a slidefastener including a pair of tapes having interlockable elements securedtotheir respective edges and a pair of slider bodies for opening andclosing the slide fastener, the tapes being secured to the case sectionsalong their peripheral edges, the slider bodies being adjacent to oneanother in the closed condition of the slide fastener, a strap connectedto one case section, and means connected to the opposite case sectionfor releaseably locking the strap, the strap overlying the slider bodiesin the closed condition of the slide fastener, the improvementcomprising an elongated loop member connected to each slider body, saidloop members being in aligned, side-by-side relationship in the closedcondition of the slide fastener to permit the strap to be extendedthrough the loop members.

7. In a luggage case according to claim 6, wherein each elongated loopmember has a lengthwise dimension substantially grater than the lengthof the slider body and is connected thereto to extend substantiallyparallel to the length of the slider body.

8. In a luggage case according to claim 6, wherein each slider body isprovided with a lug, and a pull is connected to the lug, the loop memberbeing formed of a bent wire having the ends thereof secured to the pull.

9. In a luggage case according to claim 6, wherein each slider body isprovided with a lug, and a connecting member is secured to the loopmember and connected to the lug.

10. In a luggage case according the claim 9, wherein the loop member isformed of bent wire having its ends adjacent each other substantiallymidway of the length of the loop member, the connecting membercomprising a substantially Z-shaped portion welded to said ends and aprojecting portion formed to provide a pair of trunnions extendedbeneath the lug.

1. A slider for slide fasteners comprising a pair of spaced flangedwings joined by a neck to provide a slider body, and an elongated loopmember connected to a wing, said loop member being elongated in thedirection of the length of the slider body and having a lengthwisedimension substantially greater than the length of the slider body, theelongated loop member being adapted to closely confine a strapextendible through the loop member in a direction transverse to thelength of the slider body.
 2. A slider according to claim 1, including alug on one of the wings and a pull connected to the lug, the loop memberbeing formed of a bent wire having the ends thereof secured to the pull.3. A slider according to claim 1, including a lug on one of the wings,and a connecting member secured to the loop member and connected to thelug.
 4. A slider according to claim 3, wherein the loop member is formedof bent wire having its ends adjacent each other substantially midway ofthe length of the loop member, the connecting member comprising asubstantially Z-shaped portion welded to said ends and a projectingportion formed to provide a pair of trunnions extended beneath the lug.5. In a luggage case comprising a pair of opposed case sections, a slidefastener including a pair of tapes having interlockable elements securedto their respective edges and a slider body for opening and closing theslide fastener, the tapes being secured to the case sections along theirperipheral edges, a strap connected to one case section, and meansconnected to the opposite case section for releasably locking the strap,the strap overlying the slider body in the closed condition of the slidefastener, the improvement comprising an elongated loop member connectedto the slider body, the strap being extendible through the loop member.6. In a luggage case comprising a pair of opposed case sections, a slidefastener including a pair of tapes having interlockable elements securedto their respective edges and a pair of slider bodies for opening andclosing the slide fastener, the tapes being secured to the case sectionsalong their peripheral edges, the slider bodies being adjacent to oneanother in the closed condition of the slide fastener, a strap connectedto one case section, and means connected to the opposite case sectionfor releaseably locking the strap, the strap overlying the slider bodiesin the closed condition of the slide fastener, the improvementcomprising an elongated loop member connected to each slider body, saidloop members being in aligned, side-by-side relationship in the closedcondition of the slide fastener to permit the strap to be extendedthrough the loop members.
 7. In a luggage case according to claim 6,wherein each elongated loop member has a lengthwise dimensionsubstantially grater than the length of the slider body and is connectedthereto to extend substantially parallel to the length of the sliderbody.
 8. In a luggage case according to claim 6, wherein each sliderbody is provided with a lug, and a pull is connected to the lug, theloop member being formed of a bent wire having the ends thereof securedto the pull.
 9. In a luggage case according to claim 6, wherein eachslider body is provided with a lug, and a connecting member is securedto the loop member and connected to the lug.
 10. In a luggage caseaccording the claim 9, wherein the loop member is formed of bent wirehaving its ends adjacent each other substantially midway of the lengthof the loop member, the connecting member comprising a substantiallyZ-shaped portion welded to said ends and a projecting portion formed toprovide a pair of trunnions extended beneath the lug.